Our Favorite Security Systems for Monitoring
So you have your eye on a Frontpoint home security system. Now what? Well, we typically recommend looking at the professional monitoring plans to get an idea of pricing, fees, and features. Thankfully, most home security brands offer 24/7 monitoring — and we found that this system delivers one of the best packages out there.
Frontpoint monitoring cost slightly more than that of popular DIY home security systems like SimpliSafe, but we actually experienced faster response times with Frontpoint compared to SimpliSafe and other brands. Not to mention that the system offers 100 percent cellular monitoring, so we never had to worry about it going off-line.
Another thing we liked about it is that they keep things simple by offering one all-inclusive monitoring plan. We’ll dig into that plan in just a bit.
Frontpoint Packaging
Why Monitoring?
Before jumping into the monitoring plan costs, it’s important to know why we recommend monitoring in the first place.
Let’s say you’re on vacation and a bad guy targets your home. If you don’t have a home security system, you’re out of luck. If you have one, but don’t have professional monitoring in place, then it’s completely up to you to contact the police and deal with the aftermath. (We’ve been there, and it’s not fun.)
FYI: Some folks choose to self-monitor their home security systems, which is fine — you just won’t have the extra peace of mind of knowing that you’re always connected to an emergency monitoring center, day or night.
Frontpoint Equipment
Another reason we recommend professional monitoring is that it usually includes home automation and video support. That’s the case with Frontpoint, anyway. If you want to set up security cameras and use Frontpoint home automations, those things come with the Ultimate monitoring plan.
FYI: Frontpoint uses LTE cellular monitoring, which is the fastest and most reliable connection you can get. We rank them among the best cellular home security systems.
Frontpoint Monitoring Prices and Features
Frontpoint used to offer three different monitoring plans, then two, and now … one! But don’t think of this as cutting back. Think of it as honing in. They’ve kept the most powerful plan — the one that’ll give you everything you could possibly want. It’s called the Ultimate plan, and it’s $49.99 per month.
Again, this is slightly pricier than the industry average, but you have to remember you’re getting LTE cellular monitoring, which is superior to the “Wi-Fi with cellular backup” connection that most DIY systems offer today. This means you’ll have a faster and more reliable connection to the monitoring center. Take a look at the monitoring plans, prices, and coverage below. And check out our latest roundup of Frontpoint packages and prices.
| Price | $49.99 per month |
| Type of Coverage | Intrusion + Environmental + Video + Home Automation |
| Connection Type | LTE Cellular Monitoring |
| Mobile App Controls | Yes |
| Installation Type | DIY |
| Contract Length | No Contract |
Most importantly, you won’t have to sign a long-term contract because Frontpoint monitoring is month-to-month. We’re not dead-set against contracts, but it’s nice to have the flexibility to cancel at any time without penalty. It’s also nice that there are no hidden charges or activation fees. Note that some home security companies charge extra fees — but the top DIY home security systems like Frontpoint are trending toward no-fee policies. No arguments here!
Did You Know? Frontpoint’s 24/7 professional monitoring comes with geofencing, a feature that links your cell phone to your security system and executes specific commands (like remote arming reminders) when you go outside of your “geofence.” Pretty slick!
Frontpoint Hub in the dark
Frontpoint Ultimate Plan
As we said in our Frontpoint home security review, we spent nearly 100 hours testing the Ultimate plan from top to bottom. This included installing Frontpoint security cameras around our home for an added layer of protection.
One great thing about having cameras is that you can access your live video feed from your smartphone. This way you can keep an eye on your home from virtually anywhere. Frontpoint also sends motion-triggered alerts with embedded video clips (or images) so that you can keep tabs on your home security status. Note that we didn’t install security cameras during our latest Frontpoint testing, but we know from past experience they’re fairly standard.
We did, however, order a Frontpoint smart lock and Z-Wave LED light bulb that we integrated into our system. At the time, they offered a couple of different monitoring plans, but only the Ultimate plan allowed us to control our smart home devices. That’s the only monitoring plan Frontpoint is now offering, and we think they made a great choice. It’s the plan that includes everything, which lets you get the most out of your equipment.
Frontpoint Website Home Management
Final Words on Frontpoint 24/7 Monitoring
If you’re looking to outfit your home with Frontpoint security, then you’ll have to enroll in their monitoring plan, as they don’t offer a self-monitoring option. (If that’s what you’re looking for, check out our list of best self-monitored home security systems.)
In testing out their monitoring, we found Frontpoint’s LTE cellular connection to be top-notch and highly responsive. The few times we tested the alarm siren/signal, we experienced 20-30-second response times, which is actually pretty fast. (Most brands hover around the 30-second mark.)
Sure, the price-point is higher than that of the most affordable home security systems, but you get access to some advanced features that cheaper systems typically don’t offer. Notably, geofencing and custom notifications.
Overall, if you’re looking for a solid home security system with a well-designed mobile and web app, you really can’t go wrong with Frontpoint and their Ultimate plan.
